MAZDA 5 Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 893 MOT tests from 51 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every MAZDA 5 has the same fault.

MAZDA 5's have a poor reliability rating of 361/999. The score was calculated from the average of every MAZDA 5 that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the MAZDA 5.

MAZDA 5 (example)

Check the reliability of your Mazda 5

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Diesel	2009	368/999Fair	84,398 miles	599 vehicles
Petrol	2008	363/999Fair	75,674 miles	716 vehicles
Petrol	2007	352/999Fair	86,627 miles	972 vehicles

How reliable is the MAZDA 5?

Based on 893 MOT tests from 51 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

MOT tests

893

Pass rate

71.3%

Median mileage

101,064 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every MAZDA 5 has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 502 out of 999.

Common MAZDA 5 MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 136 advisory comments and 13 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 97 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Anti-roll bar issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 40 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record wear or damage in the anti-roll bar, its links, or its bushes.

What to inspect

Listen for a knock when driving over uneven ground at low speed.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE REAR ANTI-ROLL BAR LINKAGE BALL JOINT HAS SLIGHT PLAY (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Corrosion

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 37 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record corrosion the tester could see on the body or structure. Corrosion already named on a spring, brake, or other component is counted with that component.

What to inspect

Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.

Example MOT wording: REAR SUB-FRAME CORRODED BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (5.3.3 (B) (I))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 36 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Ball joint wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 27 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn or damaged ball joint. Track rod ends are counted with steering, not here.

What to inspect

Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT SUSPENSION ARM BALL JOINT EXCESSIVELY WORN (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 22 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Lambda sensor issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 20 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a lambda sensor reading or defect noted at the test.

What to inspect

Ask whether a sensor or emissions fault has been diagnosed since the test.

Example MOT wording: EXHAUST LAMBDA READING AFTER 2ND FAST IDLE OUTSIDE SPECIFIED LIMITS (8.2.1.2 (C))

MAZDA 5 MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2014	5	60	76.7%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2013	5	74	74.3%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2010	8	150	70.7%	Tyre wear, Anti-roll bar issues
2008	8	162	74.1%	Tyre wear, Suspension arm issues

What to check when buying a used MAZDA 5

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Anti-roll bar issues. Listen for a knock when driving over uneven ground at low speed.
Corrosion. Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Ball joint wear. Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Lambda sensor issues. Ask whether a sensor or emissions fault has been diagnosed since the test.

Buying a MAZDA 5?

Common problems tell you what can affect MAZDA 5s generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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